Overseas Aid: Debt Relief and AIDS-related Assistance

Lord Hylton: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What proportion of their proposed increase in overseas development aid will be devoted to (a) debt relief and (b) the prevention and treatment of AIDS, and assistance to children orphaned as a result of AIDS and other causes

Baroness Amos: (a) The proportion of DfID's departmental expenditure limit (DEL) earmarked for debt relief over the period 2001-02 to 2003-04 is 1.12 per cent in 2001-02, 1.24 per cent in 2002-03 and 0.18 per cent in 2003-04. This excludes DfID's contribution to EC contributions for debt relief under HIPC, of approximately 43 million euro in both 2001-02 and 2002-03.
	(b) DfID's next resource allocation exercise will determine the use of the budget to 2003-04. The outcome will be published in the 2001 departmental report. It is not possible to say at this stage what specific allocation will be made towards prevention and treatment of AIDS and assistance to orphaned children.

Climate Change and Human Migration

Lord Judd: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What contingency plans they are making, together with other governments, to cope with the consequences of any large-scale migration and human displacement which may result from climate change

Baroness Amos: The UK is actively participating in the development of the Third Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). This report, to be published in 2001, will assess the state of knowledge on the impacts of climate change, including the possibility of human migration as a result of climate change. This assessment will build on earlier discussion of the issue in the IPCC's Second Assessment Report, published in 1995. Meanwhile we are playing a full part in supporting measures to mitigate the effects of natural disasters, and in establishing effective international and regional mechanisms for responding to them when they do occur.

Nandrolone: Report

Baroness Anelay of St Johns: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	When they will publish their response to the UK Sport report on nandrolone which was published in January.

Lord McIntosh of Haringey: Her Majesty's Government welcomed the UK Sport report into nandrolone when it was published and have been discussing the findings with governing bodies of sport. We are pleased to say the report has been welcomed as a valuable piece of work both at home and abroad.
	However, UK Sport has since reconvened the group to look at new developments that have emerged since the publication of the original report. Once UK Sport has made a statement on the new developments, we will respond formally to the report.

Departmental Cars

Lord Hoyle: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the Written Answer by Lord McIntosh of Haringey on 11 July (WA 25), which cars supplied by the Government Car and Despatch Agency are for the use of Ministers and senior officials in the Department for Culture, Media and Sport; and what are the numbers, types and makes of the vehicles used.

Lord McIntosh of Haringey: I refer the noble Lord to the Answer given by the noble and Learned Lord, Lord Falconer of Thoroton, on 24 July (Official Report, WA 16). The Department for Culture, Media and Sport has five cars for this purpose, supplied by the Government Car and Despatch Agency, comprising three Ford Mondeos, one Vauxhall Vectra and one Vauxhall Omega. The Royal Parks Agency does not use any cars supplied by the GCDA.

Departmental Cars

Lord Hoyle: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the Written Answer by Lord Falconer of Thoroton on 6 July (WA 148), which cars supplied by the Government Car and Despatch Agency are for the use of Ministers and senior officials in the Ministry of Defence; and what are the numbers, types and makes of the vehicles used.

Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean: I refer the noble Lord to the Answer which my noble friend Lord Falconer gave him on 24 July, WA 16.

Chinook Helicopter ZD576

Earl Attlee: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the Written Answer by Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean on 12 July (WA 35) on the Chinook helicopter ZD576, whether they will now say "whether there were any advantages in terms of safety or of time in overflying the Mull of Kintyre rather than following the original flight plan".

Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean: If the strict visibility requirements under visual flight rules had permitted, or the pilots of ZD576 had abided by instrument flight rules, there might have been some time advantage in diverting from the original flight plan and overflying the Mull of Kintyre. Whichever route had been chosen, safety would not have been compromised if the crew had adhered to the appropriate rules for the weather conditions encountered.

Offences against the Person Act 1861 and British Troops under NATO Command

Lord Carlile of Berriew: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether the provisions of Section 9 of the Offences Against the Person Act 1861 operate fairly in relation to British soldiers under NATO command.

Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean: Yes. British troops remain subject to English law under whomsoever they serve and wherever they serve in the world.

Immigration Appeals: Revised Rules

Viscount Chandos: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What consultation has taken place about new procedure rules for appeals to the Immigration Appellate Authorities; and when will the new rules be laid before Parliament.

Lord Irvine of Lairg: A paper highlighting the main issues was laid before Parliament during the passage of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999. Recently, a wide range of users across the United Kingdom, and the Council on Tribunals, were consulted about draft new rules. Changes are being made following that exercise. A cross-section of users has been kept closely in touch throughout development of the rules and that dialogue is continuing. Once this consultation is over, the rules will be laid during the Recess.

Part-time Judicial Appointments

Viscount Chandos: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the Written Answers by the Lord Chancellor on 12 April 2000 (WA 41) and 5 June 2000 (WA 139-141) when a further announcement will be made on part-time judicial appointments to tribunals.

Lord Irvine of Lairg: Following the earlier announcements about new arrangements for a number of part-time judicial appointments, similar arrangements have now been put in place for an additional range of part-time tribunal appointments for which I am jointly or solely responsible and for appointments made by the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry to Employment Tribunals.
	These changes will come into effect immediately.
	I am placing in the Libraries of both Houses joint statements signed by myself and/or the Secretary of State and by the Lord Chief Justice covering the following fixed-term appointments to Tribunals: Lord Chancellor
	Part-time Chairmen of Employment Tribunals
	Part-time Chairmen and Deputy Chairmen of the Copyright Tribunal
	The "appointed person" to hear appeals under the Trade Marks Act 1994
	Reinstatement Committees and Umpires
	Part-time members of the Restrictive Practices Court
	Chairmen and ordinary members of the Reserved Forces Appeal Tribunals
	Part-time Chairmen of the Plant Varieties and Seeds Tribunal Lord Chancellor and the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry
	Part-time lay members of the Employment Appeal Tribunal Secretary State for Trade and Industry
	Part-time members of the Employment Tribunals

Unlawful Imprisonment

Lord Morris of Manchester: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	How many sentences of imprisonment by magistrates have been declared unlawful by the High Court since 1992 involving:
	(a) council tax default;
	(b) community charge default;
	(c) fines default; and
	(d) fathers in default of payments ordered by the Child Support Agency;
	and how many cases have been reviewed by the High Court in each category.

Lord Irvine of Lairg: The information requested is not held centrally and could only be provided at a disproportionate cost.

Unlawful Imprisonment

Lord Morris of Manchester: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	How many applications for compensation for unlawful imprisonment have been made to the European Court of Human Rights involving:
	(a) council tax default;
	(b) community charge default;
	(c) fines default; and
	(d) fathers in default of payments ordered by the Child Support Agency.

Lord Irvine of Lairg: One hundred and thirty-eight applications in one or other of the categories specified at various times have been communicated to the Government of the United Kingdom for observations. The Government does not know how many other similar applications may have been made and rejected without communication, or may await consideration by the Court and may be communicated later. It is not possible to list the numbers for each category because not all applications contain the necessary information. But the majority, including the original case of this type Benham v UK, fall into category (b): community charge default.

Ministerial Accountability Following Devolution

Baroness Smith of Gilmorehill: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether additional guidance will be published to show those issues for which Ministers remain responsible following devolution to Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

Lord Irvine of Lairg: I am today placing in the Library a Devolution Guidance Note (Number 11) on ministerial accountability after devolution, covering Scotland and Wales. The guidance note will also be made available on the Cabinet Office website (www.cabinet-office.gov.uk). While the note does not supplant the devolution legislation, it is intended to offer a lay guide to the broad areas which remain the responsibility of UK Ministers, and for which they are accountable to the UK Parliament. The note will be expanded over the summer to include guidance on Northern Ireland.

Montgomeryshire: Magistrates' Courts

Lord Carlile of Berriew: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they will take steps to ensure the continued availability of magistrates' courts within the Montgomeryshire part of the County of Powys.

Lord Irvine of Lairg: The Government's policy is that magistrates' courts are best managed locally. Decisions about the number, location and future of magistrates' courts in the Montgomeryshire part of Powys, are for Dyfed Powys Magistrates' Courts Committee to determine, in consultation with its local paying authority.
	I expect Committees to undertake regular reviews of their accommodation requirements, in order to provide modern facilities which meet the needs of all court users. This includes the possibility of sharing court accommodation with the Court Service and other agencies. The Crown Court already sits occasionally at Welshpool.
	Dyfed Powys Magistrates' Courts Committee has bid for a new courthouse in Newtown under the Private Finance Initiative. In the Autumn, my Department will be reviewing all the new courthouse projects including the Dyfed Powys scheme, to consider which projects should be in the next building phase.

American Bar Association Visit

Lord Berkeley: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What funding and support in kind they are contributing to events connected with the visit of the American Bar Association to the United Kingdom this month:
	(a) in the Palace of Westminster; and
	(b) elsewhere in the United Kingdom.

Lord Irvine of Lairg: I hosted a Reception in the Lord Chancellor's Residence on Sunday 16 July 2000, and a Dinner at Lancaster House on Monday 17 July, for participants in the American Bar Association conference. Both of these events were funded by the Government. The total cost is estimated at £8,000. In addition, the Royal Gallery was made available for the morning of Tuesday 18 July 2000, followed by a lunch in the Cholmondeley Room; Cherie Booth QC hosted a reception at No. 10 Downing Street that evening; and Baroness Scotland hosted a reception in the Durbar Court on the evening of Thursday 20 July 2000. In each case the American Bar Association met the full expense.

Ufl Ltd

Viscount Chandos: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What effect Ufl Ltd's change to charitable status has had on its financial and other arrangements with the Department for Education and Employment.

Baroness Blackstone: Further to my reply dated 11 January, Official Report, col. WA 100, in order to achieve charitable status, Ufl Ltd. has split into two companies: one, the charity "UFI Charitable Trust", which wholly owns the second, its trading subsidiary "Ufi Limited", which is the operating company.
	The controls exercised by my right honourable Friend the Secretary of State for Education and Employment have been adjusted in the light of the new company structure.
	Each company's Memorandum and Articles of Association were approved by the Secretary of State and the Department for Education and Employment continues to exercise similar controls over the companies, although the Secretary of State's right to appoint the Chairman and between 30 and 49 per cent of Ufi Limited's Board of Directors/members is now time-limited to 31 March 2005. The Secretary of State's control over appointment of the chairman and directors of the charity is not time bound.
	The previous Funding Agreement between the Department and Ufl Ltd. has been superseded by one with both companies which provides for a number of checks and controls on the spending of public funds. It specifies the requirement to submit an annual Financial Plan for the approval of the Secretary of State. The Funding Agreement and the Financial Plan provide the basis for financial support.
	Ufi Limited will own the assets it creates (mainly intellectual property rights on learning products) and retain any receipts from the disposal of assets. The department will take account of any income received by Ufi Limited as a result of government investment, including asset disposal proceeds, in fixing the level of future financial support. This regime will apply only so long as Ufi Limited receives government support.
	If the Funding Agreement is terminated due to breach of contract or insolvency, the intellectual property rights will pass to the Secretary of State if he so requests. The Memorandum of the charity provides that, if it is wound up or dissolved, the Secretary of State has a right of veto over the disposition of any remaining assets. The charity cannot dispose of any of the shares of Ufi Limited without the prior authority of the Secretary of State. The charity cannot alter the constitution of Ufi Limited in so far as this affects the Secretary of State's controls.

Merrywood School

Lord Cocks of Hartcliffe: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether the Paymaster General, when launching the Government's Annual Report in Bristol on 13 July, explained how the closure of Merrywood School, Knowle West, Bristol, improved the educational opportunities for the children of Knowle West.

Baroness Blackstone: As the noble Lord is aware, the Annual Report describes, amongst other factors, the Government's progress in improving standards of education. It also underlines our commitment to ensure "high standards are met in every school and college" so that "the talents of all can be developed to the full".
	My right honourable Friend the Secretary of State's decision to approve the proposals to close Merrywood fully accords with this commitment. In reaching his decision, the Secretary of State was mindful of the fact that Merrywood has been in special measures since April 1997. Since going into special measures, OFSTED has undertaken seven monitoring visits. Despite this, the school has still not made sufficient improvements to be removed from special measures. Numbers on roll are low, attendance levels are low and academic achievement is the lowest in the LEA. As a result, the small number of pupils displaced by the school's closure will be likely to benefit by accessing a better standard of education through attending alternative schools.

Sex Education in Schools

Lord Cocks of Hartcliffe: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they will give an account of all their contacts and discussions with members of the Bishop's Bench regarding guidance and legislation concerning principles of sex education in schools in a form which will enable members of the House of Lords to respond adequately to correspondence from Christian and other groups.

Baroness Blackstone: DfEE Ministers and officials maintain close relationships with the Church of England Education Service (as well as representatives of other faith groups) as a matter of course on all education matters. A number of Church representatives commented on the draft sex and relationship education guidance issued for consultation on 16 March. DfEE Ministers discussed in detail with the right reverend Prelate the Bishop of Blackburn, in his capacity as Chairman of the Church of England Education Service, and Archbishop Nichols, in his capacity as Chairman of the Department for Education and Formation of the Bishops' conference of England and Wales, the government amendment to the Learning and Skills Bill introduced by the Government at Lords Third Reading in March. Subsequent to the defeat of this amendment, the Government drew up a further amendment, introduced in another place. The Bishop of Blackburn also introduced a further amendment at Lords Consideration of Commons amendments. There was an exchange of information between the Government and the Bishop of Blackburn about this amendment, but no negotiation. The Secretary of State has in the course of the last six months had a range of discussions and correspondence with a variety of organisations and representatives as part of the formal consultation on the guidance.

Children's Commission for Wales

Lord Carlile of Berriew: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they will make it their policy to ensure that any arrangements made in Wales for the appointment of a Children's Commissioner will achieve the impartial representation of the interests of children living in Wales, together with the ability to pursue individual cases; and in addition the establishment of a commission to advocate and lobby in the general interests of children.

Baroness Farrington of Ribbleton: The Care Standards Act, which received Royal Assent on 20 July, allows for the provision of a Children's Commissioner for Wales. The remit of the commissioner extends to all children covered by the services regulated in the Care Standards Act.
	Appointment to the post of Children's Commissioner will be for the National Assembly for Wales. They are currently considering the details of the specification and selection process for the post. The appointment will be advertised publicly and widely and will be subject to open competition and be on merit.
	The Assembly has put proposals to the Secretary of State to extend the role of the commissioner to all children and across a wider range of services.

Poorest and Richest Households: Income

Lord Morris of Manchester: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What was the number of households existing on less than half the average weekly income (after housing costs) in each of the last 10 years for which figures are available; and what was the average weekly income, after housing costs, in each of the last five years for which figures are available for (a) the poorest tenth of all households and (b) the richest tenth.

Baroness Hollis of Heigham: The number of individuals living in households with incomes below half contemporary average (mean) was published in Table H1 of Households Below Average Income 1994-95 1998-99, a copy of which is in the Library.
	The information on average weekly incomes is given in the table below. Analysis of expenditure patterns of the bottom decile suggests that income information for those in the bottom decile does not necessarily reflect their living standards. For this reason, figures for the bottom decile should be treated with caution. Users of HBAI statistics are encouraged to look at analysis of the bottom quintile (20 per cent), and so the income levels for this group have been additionally included in the table.
	
		Median Income (in £ per week) of the bottom decile and top decile after housing costs (in February 2000 prices) -- £ per week
		
			  Including self-employed Excluding self-employed 
			  Bottom decile Bottom quintile Top decile Bottom decile Bottom quintile Top decile 
			 1994-95 66 93 565 74 97 535 
			 1995-96 71 96 574 78 98 543 
			 1996-97 73 96 596 77 97 568 
			 1997-98 71 98 603 78 100 573 
			 1998-99 77 101 639 82 103 603 
		
	
	Notes:
	1. The HBAI estimates are taken from the Family Resources Survey and relate to Great Britain.
	2. The median has been used as the measure of the average income in the bottom and top decile and bottom quintile in line with HBAI conventions. This measure is preferred to the mean because it measures the central income of the group and is less influenced by possibly unrepresentative outliers.
	3. All estimates are subject to sampling error and response bias and small changes between years may be influenced by these. Results for individual years may be sensitive to the way in which household incomes are adjusted for size and composition: the picture of changes over time is less sensitive to this.
	4. Figures are provided both including and excluding the self-employed reflecting concerns over the accuracy of income information for the self-employed.
	Source: Family Resources Survey

GLA Side Roads

Lord Bowness: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	How many roads in Greater London have been designated as Greater London Authority side roads.

Lord Whitty: The Greater London Authority side roads in each borough are designated in a series of Statutory Instruments as follows: The GLA Side Roads (London Borough of Barking and Dagenham) Designation Order 2000 (SI 2000/1256);
	The GLA Side Roads (London Borough of Barnet) Designation Order 2000 (SI2000/1257);
	The GLA Side Roads (London Borough of Bexley) Designation Order 2000 (SI2000/1258);
	The GLA Side Roads (London Borough of Brent) Designation Order 2000 (SI2000/1259);
	The GLA Side Roads (London Borough of Bromley) Designation Order 2000 (SI2000/1260);
	The GLA Side Roads (London Borough of Camden) Designation Order 2000 (SI2000/1261);
	The GLA Side Roads (City of London) Designation Order 2000 (SI2000/1262);
	The GLA Side Roads (London Borough of Croydon) Designation Order 2000 (SI2000/1263);
	The GLA Side Roads (London Borough of Ealing) Designation Order 2000 (SI2000/1286);
	The GLA Side Roads (London Borough of Enfield) Designation Order 2000 (SI2000/1287);
	The GLA Side Roads (London Borough of Greenwich) Designation Order 2000 (SI2000/1288);
	The GLA Side Roads (London Borough of Hackney) Designation Order 2000 (SI2000/1289);
	The GLA Side Roads (London Borough of Hammersmith & Fulham) Designation Order 2000 (SI2000/1290);
	The GLA Side Roads (London Borough of Haringey) Designation Order 2000 (SI2000/1291);
	The GLA Side Roads (London Borough of Havering) Designation Order 2000 (SI2000/1292);
	The GLA Side Roads (London Borough of Hillingdon) Designation Order 2000 (SI2000/1293);
	The GLA Side Roads (London Borough of Hounslow) Designation Order 2000 (SI2000/1307);
	The GLA Side Roads (London Borough of Islington) Designation Order 2000 (SI2000/1371);
	The GLA Side Roads (London Borough of Kensington & Chelsea) Designation Order 2000 (SI2000/1308);
	The GLA Side Roads (London Borough of Kingston) Designation Order 2000 (SI2000/1309);
	The GLA Side Roads (London Borough of Lambeth) Designation Order 2000 (SI2000/1312);
	The GLA Side Roads (London Borough of Lewisham) Designation Order 2000 (SI2000/1310);
	The GLA Side Roads (London Borough of Merton) Designation Order 2000 (SI2000/1313);
	The GLA Side Roads (London Borough of Newham) Designation Order 2000 (SI2000/1311);
	The GLA Side Roads (London Borough of Redbridge) Designation Order 2000 (SI2000/1372);
	The GLA Side Roads (London Borough of Richmond) Designation Order 2000 (SI2000/1373);
	The GLA Side Roads (London Borough of Southwark) Designation Order 2000 (SI2000/1374);
	The GLA Side Roads (London Borough of Sutton) Designation Order 2000 (SI2000/1375);
	The GLA Side Roads (London Borough of Tower Hamlets) Designation Order 2000 (SI2000/1376);
	The GLA Side Roads (London Borough of Waltham Forest) Designation Order 2000 (SI2000/1377);
	The GLA Side Roads (London Borough of Wandsworth) Designation Order 2000 (SI2000/1378);
	The GLA Side Roads (City of Westminster) Designation Order 2000 (SI 2000/1379).

GLA Side Roads

Lord Bowness: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether, as a consequence of designation as Greater London Authority side roads, the Greater London Authority has to be consulted as the highway authority in respect of all applications for planning permission relating to properties fronting the designated length of these side roads.

Lord Whitty: No. Transport for London is not the highway authority for these side roads. It is the traffic authority only.

London Underground Limited: Performance

Lord Shepherd: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	When they will publish details of London Underground Limited's peformance in 1999-2000.

Lord Macdonald of Tradeston: The below table shows a comparison of London Underground Limited's performance in 1999-2000 to that in 1998-99. It also shows the performance targets that London Underground have been set to achieve by the end of 2000-01.
	
		
			  1998-99 1999-2000 2000-01 target 
			 Capacity (train kms  run) 61.2 63.1 67.3 [10% increase on  98-99 performance] 
			  
			 Reliability (unweighted  excess journey time in minutes) 3.15 3.21 3.02 [4% improvement on  98-99] 
			  
			 Customer satisfaction  measures (average  scores out of 100) 
			 Train Service 75 75 77 
			 Information 77 77 77 
			 Customer Safety &  Security 81 81 83 
			 Staff Helpfulness &  Availability 68 70 70 
			 Cleanliness 67 68 69

Railway Station Car Park Charges

Lord Tebbit: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they intend to exercise directly or indirectly control over car parking prices and the provision of services in railway station car parks.

Lord Macdonald of Tradeston: Car parking charges and services are a commercial matter for station operators. It is not proposed that the Franchising Director will regulate car parking charges directly under the provisions of the Transport Bill. However, it is expected that there will be reasonable commercial and contractual incentives on operators to keep car parking charges to a minimum. Many train operators already have contractual commitments to provide CCTV and additional security patrols at station car parks. The Franchising Director will be seeking further improvements through the franchise replacement process.

Ten-year Transport Plan

Lord Lea of Crondall: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What changes are implied by the 10-Year Transport Plan for the financing and scheduling of county road schemes such as Surrey County Council's proposed "Hickleys Corner" underpass on the A.31 primary route in Farnham.

Lord Macdonald of Tradeston: Our plan provides for the investment of £180 billion in transport over the next 10 years, including £59 billion in local transport. The allocation of this funding to particular areas of local transport will be determined through Local Transport Plans and other decision-making processes, but it is our assessment that over the life of the plan the heightened level of investment could fund 200 major local road improvements. It is for Surrey County Council to determine whether and when to propose the A.31 Hickleys Corner scheme as part of its Local Transport Plan.

Ten-year Transport Plan

Lord Greaves: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	With reference to the 10-Year Plan, Transport 2010, what proposals or support they have for new or enhanced routes for rail freight from the North of England to the South East and the Channel Tunnel.

Lord Macdonald of Tradeston: The 10-Year Plan anticipates a requirement for around £4 billion of investment in rail freight to support our target of 80 per cent growth in the volume of freight moved by rail. This investment will be required at locations throughout the network and will include gauge and capacity enhancements, new terminals and new rolling stock. Rail freight should also benefit from some passenger enhancement projects on the West Coast and East Coast Main Lines.
	Decisions on which schemes to support are for the Shadow Strategic Rail Authority, which will publish its strategic plan later this year.

Ten-year Transport Plan

Lord Greaves: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	With reference to the 10-Year Plan, Transport 2010, what proportion of the £7 billion rail modernisation fund and "levered in" private capital is expected to be used for the development and increase of freight capacity on the rail network.

Lord Macdonald of Tradeston: The Rail Modernisation Fund will cover support for both passenger and freight infrastructure enhancements and lever-in a much greater amount of private capital. The split in spending between passenger and freight investment will depend on franchise replacement and will be strongly influenced by the Shadow Strategic Rail Authority's rail freight strategy. The Shadow SRA will publish its plan later this year.

Ten-year Transport Plan

Lord Greaves: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	With reference to the 10-Year Plan, Transport 2010, what is the target date for phasing out the "Pacer" (class 14X) units from the rail network.

Lord Macdonald of Tradeston: There is no mandatory requirement for the removal of Pacer units from the rail network.

Ten-year Transport Plan

Lord Greaves: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	With reference to the 10-Year Plan, Transport 2010, what are the expected changes in the amount of domestic freight traffic carried by road between now and 2010:
	(1) as an absolute tonnage; and
	(2) as a share of the market;
	in both cases (a) without, and (b) with, the extra investment set out in the plan.

Lord Macdonald of Tradeston: Without the extra investment and other measures contained in the 10-Year Transport Plan, freight traffic in Great Britain carried by road, measured in tonne-kilometres, was forecast to increase by 24 per cent between 2000 and 2010. With the Plan, expected growth falls to 16 per cent.
	Without 10-Year Plan measures, road freight's share of the overall market is expected to increase to approximately 67 per cent by 2010. With the plan, this share is projected to fall to approximately 63 per cent of the overall market.

Ten-year Transport Plan

Lord Greaves: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether the investment and other spending set out in the 10-Year Plan, Transport 2010, will lead to through rail services for passengers from the North of England to the European mainland via the Channel Tunnel.

Lord Macdonald of Tradeston: The 10-Year Plan does not include a particular provision for through rail services. It is the statutory duty of the British Railways Board to prepare a plan for international services, including through services, via the Channel Tunnel. The board is currently reviewing its 1989 plan and expects to update that plan within the next couple of months.

South-East Manchester and West Midlands Multi-Modal Studies

Lord Greaves: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	When they expect that the reports of the West Midlands to North West (M.6) and south-east Manchester multi-modal studies will be published.

Lord Macdonald of Tradeston: The South East Manchester Multi-Modal Study is expected to report to the North West Regional Assembly in Spring 2001. The West Midlands to North West Multi-Modal Study is expected to report to the North West Regional Assembly and West Midlands Regional Planning Body in Autumn 2001.

West Coast Main Line: Future Freight Capacity

Lord Greaves: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What proportion of the increased capacity that will result from the modernisation of the West Coast Main Line is intended or expected to be made available for freight traffic.

Lord Macdonald of Tradeston: The West Coast Main Line (WCML) upgrade is intended to produce a further 42 freight paths per day in each direction between north-west London and the West Midlands, the North West and Scotland. These will be above and beyond the present level of freight traffic and commensurate with the passenger service enhancements to be brought about through the Virgin West Coast contract and the broad level of services operated by the other existing WCML operators.

Millennium Dome: Building and Infrastructure Costs

Lord Tebbit: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What is the total cost of the construction of the Millennium Dome broken down to show the costs of clearance and preparation of the site, the construction of the building itself and ancillary works such as access roads and parking facilities.

Lord Falconer of Thoroton: We have contacted the New Millennium Experience Company (NMEC), as owners of the Dome structure, and English Partnerships (EP), as owners of the site, to request the information required, and I will write to the noble Lord as soon as it is available, placing copies of my letter in the Library of the House.

Amendments to Bills

Lord Morris of Manchester: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	How many of their amendments to Government Bills were agreed to by the House of Lords in each of the parliamentary Sessions 1997-98 and 1998-1999; and how many amendments which the Government opposed were agreed to.

Lord Falconer of Thoroton: The information requested is not available. However, I would refer the noble Lord to the Public Bill Sessional Statistics for the Parliamentary Sessions 1997-98 and 1998-99, which are available from the Library of the House.

NMEC: Retention of Simmons & Simmons

Lord Luke: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	For what purpose the New Millennium Experience Company called in lawyers from Simmons & Simmons to provide them with assistance and advice.

Lord Falconer of Thoroton: The New Millennium Experience Company (NMEC) appointed Simmons & Simmons in April 2000 to provide advice on a wide range of corporate governance issues.

Millennium Dome

Lord Luke: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they informed M. Gerbeau that the Dome project was on budget when he was engaged as Chief Executive to the New Millennium Experience Company in February; and, if so, on what basis; and
	Whether they accept the estimate made by M. Gerbeau that the budget of the New Millennium Experience Company was £26 million adrift when he became chief executive.

Lord Falconer of Thoroton: Following M. P-Y Gerbeau's appointment on 7 February 2000, his priorities were to fix the product on offer to visitors and to make the New Millennium Experience Company (NMEC) into an efficient service business. He has achieved those two aims. In parallel with the changes he introduced to the product and the business, he instituted a complete review of budgets. The outcome of that review indicated a potential cost overspend by the end of the year of £26 million unless measures were introduced to stem expenditure and find savings. Through the introduction of measures to increase revenue and by driving down costs, NMEC is confident that costs can be brought back to the original £758 million ceiling. Under the terms of the grant agreement between NMEC and the Millennium Commission, the commission is required to approve the company's budgets. The commission accepted the outcome of the budget review and has ongoing discussions with the company about cost efficiencies and cost savings.
	The nature of the discussions prior to the appointment of M. Gerbeau as Chief Executive and the basis on which he agreed to take up the post are matters between him and the board of the company. I understand that the discussions focused on the operational and business organisation aspects of the project, as they were the critical priorities at the time.

Millennium Dome

Lord Luke: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they have approved the decision by the New Millennium Experience Company to revise their budget, which now shows that they expect to receive a minimum of £30 million from the Millennium Dome site instead of the original figure of £15 million.

Lord Falconer of Thoroton: When the budget was set in early 1997, the Millennium Experience at Greenwich was envisaged as a one-year exhibition, following which the Dome would be dismantled. The estimated disposal value of the Dome at that time was £15 million. In June 1997, this Government gave the Dome project the go-head with five key commitments one of which was that it should have a lasting legacy in terms of the regeneration of the Greenwich peninsula. Once the competition to establish a future use for the Dome was under way, NMEC revised the estimate in their budget to £30 million.

Millennium Dome

Lord Luke: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they plan to hand over the running of the Millennium Dome to its purchaser before 31 December 2000.

Lord Falconer of Thoroton: There are no plans to hand over the Millennium Dome to a preferred bidder before 31 December 2000.

Millennium Dome

Baroness Anelay of St. Johns: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether the terms of the contract of sale of the Millennium Dome site include a requirement that the sum should be paid by the purchaser to the New Millennium Experience Company prior to 31 December; and, if so, what that sum will be; and when it will be paid.

Lord Falconer of Thoroton: The terms of a contract of sale would not require a preferred bidder to pay a sum to the New Millennium Experience Company (NMEC) in advance of 31 December 2000.

Millennium Dome

Baroness Anelay of St. Johns: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What impact assessment they made of the revenue loss and operational cost to the New Millennium Experience Company (NMEC) of implementing the Government's request that 1 million free tickets should be given to schoolchildren; when the assessment was made; and when it was made available to the NMEC.

Lord Falconer of Thoroton: On 17 March 1999, my right honourable friend the Prime Minister, announced in another place that the New Millennium Experience Company (NMEC) were making 1 million free tickets available to schoolchildren. The decision was taken by the Board of NMEC and it was for them to incorporate the costs of that decision into their business plan.

Millennium Dome

Baroness Anelay of St. Johns: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether the New Millennium Experience Company was trading solvently on Monday 17 July.

Lord Falconer of Thoroton: The New Millennium Experience Company was trading solvently on Monday 17 July.

Government Annual Report

The Earl of Northesk: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	To what extent and from which companies, if any, commercial sponsorship has been used to defray the costs of preparation, publication and distribution of the Government's Annual Report.

Lord Falconer of Thoroton: No commercial sponsorship has been used to defray the costs of preparation of the Government's Annual Report. The report was published and distributed by The Stationery Office, which is a private sector company.

Government Annual Report

The Earl of Northesk: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	To what extent the Strategic Communications Unit was involved in the preparation of the Government's Annual Report; and whether they consider that involvement, in so far as it exists, to be satisfactory; and
	Further to the observation of the Leader of the House that the Annual Report was written by civil servants and is "a wholly official document" (H.L. Deb., 12 July, col. 395), from which government departments the civil servants who prepared the document were drawn.

Lord Falconer of Thoroton: All three of the Government's Annual Reports have been based on contributions and standard briefing provided by departments. They have been edited by a civil servant, from the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions, who is now based in the Strategic Communications Unit of the Prime Minister's Office. Other civil servants in the unit assisted with the preparation of the report in addition to their other duties. The Government are fully satisfied with the role of the unit in the preparation of the Report.

Millennium Dome: Sale

Lord Tomlinson: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	When they plan to announce the winning bid for the future use of the Millennium Dome at Greenwich.

Lord Falconer of Thoroton: Dome Europe has won the competition to take over the Dome when the Millennium Experience ends on 31 December. We believe their proposals will deliver a high quality, innovative and economically sustainable long-term future for the Dome, of which the people of Greenwich and the United Kingdom can be proud.
	The proposals will build on the remarkable achievements in constructing the Dome and delivering the Millennium Experience this year. Provision of a world-class visitor attraction will continue, and will benefit from Dome Europe's investment of around £400 million in the core Dome site over the next five years.
	In supporting the Dome's transition from the current Millennium Experience to another major visitor destination, Dome Europe is proposing to create an urban entertainment resort, through a combination of uses inside the Dome and on adjacent land. The latter will include hotels, a convention centre, commercial leisure, restaurants, residential units, offices, retail and community facilities. Whilst the proposals are all subject to the granting of planning permission, and much work remains to be done to complete the sale of the site, we are confident that Dome Europe's proposals will deliver an exciting contribution to the continued regeneration of the Greenwich Peninsula.
	We have further decided that, of the overall consideration for the sale of the Millennium Dome (details of which must remain commercially confidential at this stage), some £53 million should be paid to the New Millennium Experience Company from total expected early payments from the competition of £105 million. There is also provision for additional payment for land value in certain circumstances and a share of profits if and when the business changes hands. The remainder of this total amount, after meeting third party commitments, will go to English Partnerships. In reaching this view, we took account of the benefits to the Greenwich Peninsula and the Thames Gateway in terms of continuity of jobs and assured future private investment in the site, building on the substantial public investment already made--more than £1 billion--towards major environmental, transport and other improvements on the Peninsula.

Intervention Board: Annual Report and Accounts

Lord Sewel: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	When the Intervention Board will publish its 1999-2000 Annual Report and Accounts.

Baroness Hayman: The Intervention Board's 1999-2000 Annual Report and Accounts were laid before Parliament today. Copies are available in the Library of the House. Under separate arrangements, copies will also be made available in the libraries of the devolved legislatures.

BSE

Lord Marlesford: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they will publish in the Official Report an updated table showing the number of cases of BSE confirmed in Great Britain during each week of 2000 to date, together with the moving total of cases reported for each 52-week period.

Baroness Hayman: The following table shows the number of cases of BSE confirmed in Great Britain during each week of 2000 to date, together with the moving annual total of cases reported for each 52-week period.
	
		
			 Week Number Number confirmed each week 52 Week Total Reported 
			 1 33 2,957 
			 2 60 2,906 
			 3 13 2,874 
			 4 25 2,846 
			 5 13 2,818 
			 6 63 2,789 
			 7 56 2,754 
			 8 32 2,726 
			 9 33 2,688 
			 10 46 2,634 
			 11 7 2,632 
			 12 76 2,599 
			 13 41 2,578 
			 14 26 2,566 
			 15 25 2,537 
			 16 25 2,501 
			 17 26 2,487 
			 18 29 2,460 
			 19 30 2,431 
			 20 38 2,426 
			 21 26 2,408 
			 22 17 2,373 
			 23 22 2,338 
			 24 65 2,313 
			 25 26 2,290 
			 26 32 2,276 
			 27 21 2,262 
			 28 22 2,229 
		
	
	Note: Week 1 is the week ending Friday 7 January.
	It should be noted that the rate of confirmation may not closely reflect the progress of the epidemic. This is because there may be a variable and sometimes long delay between slaughter and confirmation as a result of delays in laboratory diagnosis and administrative procedures. The delay between slaughter and confirmation is an average six to eight weeks, but may on occasion be considerably longer.

GM Crops: Exclusion from Food Chain

Lord Swinfen: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the Written Answer by the Baroness Hayman on 3 July (WA 123), what monitoring will be undertaken and what enforcement action will be put in hand to ensure that crops produced from the unauthorised sowing of genetically modified seed will not enter the food chain.

Baroness Hayman: The Government has written to all farmers who may have sown the affected seed varieties giving details of the relevant arrangements which have been made under the EU Arable Area Payments Scheme and warning them that it would be an offence to market crops grown from the affected seed lots. Government inspectors are auditing the arrangements put in place by Advanta Seeds (UK) Ltd to identify the affected farmers and compensate them for the losses associated with crop destruction. We have also alerted processors of oilseed rape to the need to ensure that the affected crops are not marketed and do not enter the food chain.

GM Crops: Exclusion from Food Chain

Lord Swinfen: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they will answer Question HL3219 tabled on 5 July before any crops referred to in the Question are harvested and available to enter the food chain.

Baroness Hayman: A reply has been given to the noble Lord today.

Arms Industry: Investment by Political Parties

Lord Alton of Liverpool: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they intend to discourage investment by political parties in the arms industry.

Lord Bassam of Brighton: The investment policies of political parties are a matter for them.

Immigration Act Detention: Written Reasons

The Earl of Sandwich: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they have introduced a legal requirement for providing detailed written reasons for the detention of asylum seekers; and if not, when they will do so.

Lord Bassam of Brighton: Since October 1999 it has been our administrative practice to serve all persons detained under Immigration Act powers, whether or not they are asylum seekers, with a form of notice (the IS91R) giving written reasons for their detention. Reasons are given by way of a checklist. This honours a commitment given in the Fairer, Faster and Firmer White Paper. We are currently considering whether a requirement to give written reasons should be included in rules (which are to be made under Section 153 of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999) for the management of detention centres.
	Following concern expressed by the noble Earl and others at Third Reading of the Bill which became the 1999 Act, we undertook to review the IS91R form. That review is now nearing completion and our aim is to introduce a revised IS91R this October. Though I cannot pledge that we shall be able to satisfy them in every particular, we are confident that the revised form of notice will go some way towards meeting the concerns which have been expressed by noble Lords and others about the existing form.

Prisoners Transferred to Hospital under Mental Health Act

Lord Dholakia: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	How many prisoners were transferred to hospital under Sections 47 and 48 of the Mental Health Act 1983 in 1988 and 1999 respectively.

Lord Bassam of Brighton: The latest available information on numbers of prisoners transferred to hospitals as restricted patients under Sections 47 and 48 of the Mental Health Act 1983 in 1988 and 1999 is as follows:
	
		Table 1: Number of prisoners discharged to the care of mental hospitals as restricted patients in years 1988 and 1999
		
			  1998 1999 
			 Transferred from prison to hospital after sentence(1) 94 276 
			 Transferred from prison to hospital while unsentenced or untried (2) 82 466 
			 All transfers from Prison Service establishments 176 742 
		
	
	(1) Transfer from Prison Service Establishments under section 47 of the Mental Health Act 1983 with restrictions under section 49.
	(2) Transfers under section 48 of the Mental Health Act 1983.
	p The number of transfers in 1999 is based upon provisional data.

Probation Committees: Use of Home Secretary's Default Powers

Lord Windlesham: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What use was made over the most recent five-year period for which information is available of the powers of the Home Secretary under Section 11(1) of the Probation Service Act 1993 to make rules regulating community service orders and the supervision of persons subject to probation orders.

Lord Bassam of Brighton: None. Section 11(1) of the Probation Service Act 1993 provides the Secretary of State with default powers where a probation committee fails to discharge its duty. These powers have not been used. Rules regulating community penalties, referred to in the question, are contained in Section 26 of the Act.

Community Service Orders and Probation Supervision: Home Secretary's Powers

Lord Windlesham: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What use was made over the most recent five-year period for which information is available of the powers of the Home Secretary under Section 26 of the Probation Service Act 1993 to make rules regulating community service orders and the supervision of persons subject to probation orders.

Lord Bassam of Brighton: No use has been made of these powers over the last five years.

Transsexuals: Working Group Report

Baroness Gould of Potternewton: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	When the report of the Interdepartmental Working Group on Transsexual People will be published.

Lord Bassam of Brighton: The Interdepartmental Working Group reported to my right honourable friend the Home Secretary just before Easter. I am most grateful to members of the working group and those who contributed to it for the thoroughness of their work. Since Easter, my right honourable friend has consulted ministerial colleagues in other government departments and the devolved administrations.
	My right honourable friend has today placed copies of the report in the Library. Similar arrangements are being made in the Scottish Parliament, the National Assembly for Wales and the Northern Ireland Assembly. The report will be placed on the Home Office website. Hard copies may be obtained on application to my department.
	The report will be considered carefully within Government.

Access to Government Information: Code of Practice

Lord Shepherd: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	When they intend to publish the 1999 report on the operation of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information.

Lord Bassam of Brighton: My right honourable friend the Home Secretary has published this report today. Copies have been placed in the Library.

Asylum Support Adjudicators

Lord Acton: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	When they will announce the appointment of the Asylum Support Adjudicators.

Lord Bassam of Brighton: My right honourable friend the Home Secretary has today announced the appointment of the following Asylum Support Adjudicators, under Section 102 of and Schedule 10 to the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999:
	
		
			   
			 Chief Asylum Support  Adjudicator Mrs Sehba Haroon Storey 
			 Deputy Chief Asylum  Support Adjudicator Ms Gillian Carter 
			 Asylum Support  Adjudicators Mrs Sarah Breach Mr Laurence Brass Mr Alan Ponting Dr Ethlyn Prince Mrs Susannah Walker

Fire Service: Capital Provisions

Lord Acton: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	When they will announce planned future capital provisions for the fire service in England and Wales.

Lord Bassam of Brighton: To assist the fire service in improving its efficiency and effectiveness, my honourable friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for the Home Office, Mr O'Brien, is increasing credit approval provision for the service from its current level of £35.7 million to £59.7 million in 2001-02. Planned provision will be sustained at that level in 2002-03 and increased by a further £2 million to £61.7 million in 2003-04.

Horserace Betting Levy: National Lottery Impact

Lord Acton: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	When they intend to publish the fifth report on the impact of the National Lottery on the horserace betting levy.

Lord Bassam of Brighton: An update on the impact of the National Lottery on the horserace betting levy has been published today. I am arranging for copies to be placed in the Library.
	The paper, which has been prepared by the Home Office's Economic & Resource Analysis Unit, examines continuing trends in off-course betting expenditure and their relationship to the horserace betting levy.
	The analysis indicates that in 1999 off-course betting expenditure was about 14.7 per cent below the level it would have reached in the absence of the National Lottery and that, by implication, the horserace betting levy raised £9-10 million less than it might otherwise have done.
	This is broadly consistent with the findings of the first four reports.
	As the Government have already announced their intention to abolish the horserace betting levy system, it is not our intention to commission any future reports in this series.

Sexual Offences Review: Report

Baroness Gould of Potternewton: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	When they will publish the sexual offences review report.

Lord Bassam of Brighton: My right honourable friend the Minister of State for the Home Office, Mr Clarke, can confirm that Setting the Boundaries: reforming the law on sex offences, report of the review of sex offences, has been published today.
	My right honourable friend the Home Secretary set out the terms of reference for the review in his reply of 25 January 1999 (Official Report, cols. 80-81). The review was asked to look at the law in England and Wales and to make recommendations that will provide clear and coherent sex offences that protect the individual, particularly children and more vulnerable people from abuse and exploitation; enable abusers to be appropriately punished; and are fair and non-discriminatory in accordance with the European Convention on Human Rights and the Human Rights Act 1998.
	This review was open and inclusive--it involved many stakeholders directly in its steering group and advisory external reference group, and consulted with many more at a series of conferences and seminars. It has looked at the evidence from research and the experience of law reform in other countries. The review has now completed its report to Government. It has made far-reaching recommendations to strengthen the effectiveness and protection of the law for children, raised important questions about the nature of the protection that should be offered to vulnerable people, proposed codifying and clarifying the law on consent in rape and setting the law on a fair and non-discriminatory basis for men and women whether as victim or offender. It also recommends new laws for dealing with the trafficking of human beings for sexual exploitation and the use of children in sexual exploitation, as well as looking at penalties and treatment.
	The issues involved are sensitive and complex ones, on which there will be differing views. It is a long time since we have had such a thorough and comprehensive set of proposals on the law of sex offences, based on careful thought and consultation. But these proposals are just that--recommendations made to Government by a broadly based review set up to provide the framework for further debate. The review involved many people from outside the civil service from many different groups and backgrounds, as well as civil servants from a wide range of departments. Before the Government can come to a conclusion on any of them we need further input and views on what is recommended. This is the start of a real debate on what we think the law should be and how it should be framed.
	We would like views on all of the proposals in the report. The review has posed some specific questions, but we want reactions to all the recommendations. We would like to know how well they would work, whether they would add to the protection of the vulnerable, whether they would apply fairly, equitably and with justice and whether there would be any effects or consequences that have not yet been identified.
	The Government particularly welcome the proposals to strengthen the law for children and vulnerable people--we have made great strides in tackling the issues of evidence for children and vulnerable people and it is time that the offences in the criminal law were revised to ensure robust and comprehensive protection for the weakest in our society. It is important to get the law right while ensuring that vulnerable people are not deterred from seeking advice from statutory authorities. We would welcome views on the proposals that relate to the protection of children and vulnerable people--what the impact and consequences of those would be. We welcome the review's clarity on the importance of the age of consent and the need to maintain it at 16.
	The Government do not think it would be right to take a view on the proposals in the report until they have been scrutinised and tested in consultation. This report and its proposals are not an end but a beginning--the report provides a carefully argued framework for consideration by all those who are affected, personally or professionally, by these proposals. The report is being made widely available in summary and full form both in hard copy and on the Home Office website. It is free and available on request, as is a supporting volume of evidence. The period for consultation is long--until March 2001--to give time for the full implications of the proposals to be considered. My right honourable friend the Minister of State for the Home Office, Mr Clarke, looks forward to an important social debate that will help the Government frame proposals for a safe, just and tolerant society.
	Copies of the report and summary have been placed in the Library and the Vote Office.

Departmental Cars

Lord Hoyle: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the Written Answer by the Lord Falconer of Thoroton on 6 July (WA 148), which cars supplied by the Government Car and Despatch Agency are for the use of Ministers and senior officials in the Home Office; and what are the numbers, types and makes of the vehicles used; and
	Further to the Written Answer by the Lord Falconer of Thoroton on 6 July (WA 148), which cars supplied by the Government Car and Despatch Agency are for the use of Ministers and senior officials in the Home Office; and what are the numbers, types and makes of the vehicles used.

Lord Bassam of Brighton: The information requested is not held by the Home Office. I refer my noble friend to the Answer given by my noble friend the Minister of State for the Cabinet Office, Lord Falconer of Thoroton, on 24 July (Official Report, WA 15-16).

Medical Laboratory Scientific Officers

Lord Walton of Detchant: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether the recruitment and retention of Medical Laboratory Scientific Officers (MLSOs) is falling; how many unfilled vacanies there are; and whether a contributing cause of the problem is level of starting salary for a science graduate MLSO.

Lord Hunt of Kings Heath: The 1999 Recruitment, Retention and Vacancy Survey did not separately identify Medical Laboratory Scientific Officers (MLSOs).
	The National Advisory Group for Scientists and Technicians has been charged with developing plans to improve workforce planning, education, training and career development amongst that group of staff. The Department of Health is also developing a specific strategy for improving recruitment and retention, liaising closely with employers, professional bodies and trade unions to raise the profile of the work of scientists.
	All non-review body staff have been offered an above inflation three-year pay deal (from April 1999). From 1 April 1999, trainee MLSOs received pay increases of up to 26 per cent and newly qualified MLSOs 7.1 per cent. From April 2000, all biomedical scientists (which includes medical laboratory scientific officers) have received 3.25 per cent or £300, whichever is the higher, and a formula for pay for the year 2001-2002 is agreed.
	The National Health Service pay system is in need of modernisation. We are working in partnership with trade unions to negotiate a new NHS pay system which will offer all NHS staff a more attractive career structure, greater use of their skills and higher earnings for those who contribute most to the service and support modernisation of the NHS.

Passive Smoking

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they propose to undertake any new initiatives on the dangers to health of passive smoking.

Lord Hunt of Kings Heath: The Government will continue to monitor the available scientific data on this subject and will ensure that the appropriate information is included in the ongoing tobacco education campaign.
	The continued development of initiatives such as the Public Places Charter in the licensed hospitality sector will also help to publicise the issues.
	The Health and Safety Commission has consulted on the introduction of an Approved Code of Practice on smoking in the workplace and the Government are awaiting their advice.

Smoking in the Catering Industry

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they will undertake an education programme designed to discourage smoking in the catering industry.

Lord Hunt of Kings Heath: There are no plans to target specific industries in the development of the current tobacco education programme.
	Smoking in commercial food preparation areas is prohibited under Chapter VIII of the Food Safety (General Food Hygiene) Regulations 1995 and guidance has been published on compliance with the regulations.

Human Embryo Cloning: Report

Lord Alton of Liverpool: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What consideration they are giving to the findings of the Committee chaired by Dr Liam Donaldson, the Chief Medical Officer, into the cloning of human embryos; what timetable they are working to in framing their response; whether they will seek further evidence, especially on the use of adult stem cells as an alternative to the use of stem cells from human embryos; and whether they will publish the Donaldson report; and
	What plans they have to enable both Houses of Parliament to debate the scientific and ethical questions which arise from the findings of the Donaldson Committee into human cloning; and whether any use of human embryos for the manufacture of clones will require amendment to the 1991 Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act or whether such authorisation may be permitted by licence without fresh Parliamentary authority; and
	Whether they will seek to change the law which has allowed scientists at Sheffield University to import embryonic cells from Wisconsin; what is being done to monitor the use to which these cells are being put and to prevent further trafficking in embryonic stem cells; and
	Whether the impact of embryonic stem cell tissue accords with the findings of the Polkinghorne Committee's recommendations, which were accepted by the previous administration; and
	Whether they intend to ban the import of stem cell tissues derived from human embryos obtained illegally or against currently agreed ethical principles, as they have done in the case of the import of animal products obtained illegally or against currently agreed ethical principles.

Lord Hunt of Kings Heath: These are all matters within the Terms of Reference of the Chief Medical Officer's Expert Group on Therapeutic Cloning.
	The Expert Group has completed its work on the potential benefits, risks and the ethical issues raised by developments in stem cell research and cell nuclear replacement. The Government are now considering the report's recommendations.

Embryonic Stem Cell Tissue Imports

Lord Alton of Liverpool: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they were aware that Sheffield University had decided to import embryonic stem cell tissues; and whether Sheffield University consulted the Department of Health or the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority in advance of their action.

Lord Hunt of Kings Heath: The Department of Health is aware of the work being conducted on stem cells by Sheffield University. The importation of embryonic stem cell tissue is not regulated by the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act 1990 so there was no requirement for the University to consult with either the Department of Health or the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority.

NHS Pensions Agency: Annual Report and Accounts

Baroness Gould of Potternewton: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	When they will publish the Annual Report and Accounts of the National Health Service Pensions Agency.

Lord Hunt of Kings Heath: We have approved the report and accounts, which have today been laid before both Houses of Parliament in accordance with the requirements of section 5(2) and 5(3) of the Exchequer and Audit Departments Act 1921.
	Copies have been placed in the Library.

Life Expectancy Inequalities

Lord Morris of Manchester: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Which of their policies for minimum incomes and health specifically address the need to reduce widening inequality in the expectation of life between unskilled workers and professional workers.

Lord Hunt of Kings Heath: Inequalities in life expectancy are due to a variety of factors: income distribution, education, public safety, housing, employment, transport and pollution as well as those relating to behaviour.
	Changes we have made to the tax and benefit systems, the introduction of the National Minimum Wage and action to reduce the number of deaths from coronary heart disease and stroke and cancer are aimed at improving the health of everyone and the worst off in particular.
	Other action across government is identified in Saving Lives: Our Healthier Nation, published in July 1999, and Opportunity for All: Tackling Poverty and Social Exclusion, published in September 1999. Copies are available in the Library.

Life Expectancy Inequalities

Lord Morris of Manchester: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What acts they are taking with other member states of the European Union to reduce inequality in the expectation of life between unskilled workers and professional workers.

Lord Hunt of Kings Heath: The recently published health strategy for the European Community aims to meet emerging health trends and challenges across Europe. The strategy recognises the serious threat posed by wide variations and inequalities in health status.
	One of its objectives is to achieve an integrated health strategy which links all health related activities including those in other policy areas which have an impact on health. This is the first time all health related activity has been brought together in such a coherent way by the Commission.
	The European Commission views the programme as a key initiative that will provide added value at a European level but makes clear that health care delivery remains the responsibility by member states. The United Kingdom Government emphasised the importance of this in its initial reaction to the Communication at the Health Council on 29 June.

Variant Creuzfeldt-Jakob Disease

Lord Lucas: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they will now test the tonsil and appendix samples that were rejected from the tests for nvCJD using one of the tests that does not require the sample to be in good condition.

Lord Hunt of Kings Heath: To the best of our knowledge, there is no test for variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease that does not require a tonsil or appendix sample to be in good condition to give a meaningful result.
	Some samples in the retrospective studies on tonsil and appendixes were unsuitable for analysis because they were found by scientists to be damaged, or otherwise of insufficient quality to enable analysis to be carried out. At the time the samples were taken, during routine surgery, there had been no intention of subjecting them to further analysis.

Variant Creuzfeldt-Jakob Disease

Lord Lucas: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they will offer tonsil biopsies and magnetic resonance scans to any residents of Leicestershire who wish to be assured that they do not have nvCJD.

Lord Hunt of Kings Heath: No. Whilst tonsil biopsy or magnetic resonance imaging of the brain, taken with other criteria, can enable clinicians to determine with reasonable confidence whether or not an individual showing clinical symptoms of the disease is suffering from variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease (vCJD), there is still no test available to detect those who may be infected with vCJD but have no symptoms.

Variant Creuzfeldt-Jakob Disease

Lord Lucas: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether all the Leicestershire tonsil and appendix samples taken since 1985 are to be tested for nvCJD; if so, what test will be used on samples that are not in good condition; and, if not, what criteria will be used to exclude samples.

Lord Hunt of Kings Heath: There are significant logistical and ethical difficulties associated with the design of any studies of this type. Any proposal for such a study received by the Department of Health would need to undergo rigorous peer-review and ethical approval in line with procedures established for other similar studies.
	The protocol for detecting abnormal prion protein in tonsil and appendix tissues requires the presence of sufficient lymphoid tissue in the sample. Results will not be obtainable from samples where there is insufficient lymphoid tissue present or the tissue has been so badly damaged that it is unsuitable for prion protein detection.

Variant Creuzfeldt-Jakob Disease

Lord Lucas: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	How many children of nvCJD victims have moderate or severe neurological symptoms of unknown origin.

Lord Hunt of Kings Heath: The National Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease Surveillance Unit (NCJDSU) is aware of one child of a variant CJD patient with neurological symptoms. The NCJDSU is not aware of any suspect cases of vCJD in a family member of a vCJD patient.

Variant Creuzfeldt-Jakob Disease

Lord Lucas: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What are (to the nearest month) the date of onset, duration of illness and age at death for all victims of the nvCJD outbreak; and
	What are (to the nearest month) the date of onset, duration of illness and age at death of the five nvCJD cases in the Leicestershire cluster; and
	What are (to the nearest month) the date of onset and the current age of victims of nvCJD who are still living.

Lord Hunt of Kings Heath: The date of onset, duration of illness and age at death, or current age if the patient is still alive, for all definite and probable variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease patients known to the National CJD Surveillance Unit on 20 July 2000 are set out in the table.
	We cannot provide data relating to cases in a particular geographical location in order to preserve the anonymity of patients and their families.
	
		
			 Date of Onset Duration (months) Age (Years) at Death Current Age (Years) if Alive 
			 January 1994 29 50 
			 February 1994 23 29 
			 March 1994 38 19 
			 June 1994 11 19 
			 July 1994 18 41 
			  
			 August 1994 18 30 
			 December 1994 26 28 
			 December 1994 11 29 
			 January 1995 17 30 
			 January 1995 10 30 
			 January 1995 13 20 
			 March 1995 11 29 
			 July 1995 14 35 
			 August 1995 9 31 
			 September 1995 30 33 
			 October 1995 17 36 
			 December 1995 14 25 
			 December 1995 11 19 
			 January 1996 17 23 
			 January 1996 23 34 
			 March 1996 12 19 
			 March 1996 14 23 
			 March 1996 25 24 
			 May 1996 24 45 
			 May 1996 29 24 
			 October 1996 12 36 
			 November 1996 8 27 
			 December 1996 24 20 
			 December 1996 33 17 
			 February 1997 11 53 
			 March 1997 39 21 
			 July 1997 13 18 
			 July 1997 13 25 
			 July 1997 15 36 
			 August 1997 16 29 
			 October 1997 16 28 
			 October 1997 12 35 
			 November 1997 11 39 
			 November 1997 11 20 
			 November 1997 12 26 
			 December 1997 14 17 
			 December 1997 14 25 
			 December 1997 12 24 
			 January 1998 16 23 
			 February 1998 11 51 
			 February 1998 26 26 
			 March 1998 8 21 
			 April 1998 7 41 
			 May 1998 14 39 
			 May 1998 7 20 
			 May 1998 18 33 
			 June 1998 20 17 
			 June 1998 14 25 
			 July 1998 Alive Alive 14 
			 July 1998 15 25 
			 July 1998 22 24 
			 September 1998 18 17 
			 September 1998 18 17 
			 October 1998 Alive Alive 30 
			 January 1999 7 29 
			 January 1999 9 54 
			 February 1999 9 34 
			 March 1999 16 20 
			 April 1999 10 27 
			 April 1999 13 19 
			 April 1999 9 15 
			 April 1999 12 22 
			 May 1999 10 25 
			 May 1999 12 31 
			 June 1999 6 43 
			 June 1999 Alive Alive 37 
			 July 1999 11 51 
			 August 1999 Alive Alive 21 
			 October 1999 Alive Alive 28 
			 November 1999 Alive Alive 24 
			 November 1999 Alive Alive 29 
			 December 1999 Alive Alive 27 
			 January 2000 Alive Alive 25